Method and apparatus for improving low-cost mtc (machine-type communication) devices in a wireless communication system

ABSTRACT

A method and apparatus are disclosed for improving low-cost MTC (Machine-Type Communication) devices in a wireless communication system. The method includes broadcasting, in a system information, a first information used for cell re-selection. The method further includes providing a second information, for a neighboring cell or a frequency, that is used for cell re-selection.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.13/675,348, filed Nov. 13, 2012, which claims the benefit of U.S.Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. No. 61/559,279 filed on Nov. 14,2011, the entire disclosures of which are incorporated herein byreference.

FIELD

This disclosure generally relates to wireless communication networks,and more particularly, to a method and apparatus for improving low-costMTC devices in a wireless communication system.

BACKGROUND

With the rapid rise in demand for communication of large amounts of datato and from mobile communication devices, traditional mobile voicecommunication networks are evolving into networks that communicate withInternet Protocol (IP) data packets. Such IP data packet communicationcan provide users of mobile communication devices with voice over IP,multimedia, multicast and on-demand communication services.

An exemplary network structure for which standardization is currentlytaking place is an Evolved Universal Terrestrial Radio Access Network(E-UTRAN). The E-UTRAN system can provide high data throughput in orderto realize the above-noted voice over IP and multimedia services. TheE-UTRAN system's standardization work is currently being performed bythe 3GPP standards organization. Accordingly, changes to the currentbody of 3GPP standard are currently being submitted and considered toevolve and finalize the 3GPP standard.

SUMMARY

A method and apparatus are disclosed for improving low-cost MTC(Machine-Type Communication) devices in a wireless communication system.The method includes broadcasting, in a system information, a firstinformation used for cell re-selection. The method further includesproviding a second information, for a neighboring cell or a frequency,that is used for cell re-selection.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a diagram of a wireless communication system according toone exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a transmitter system (also known as accessnetwork) and a receiver system (also known as user equipment or UE)according to one exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram of a communication system accordingto one exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a functional block diagram of the program code of FIG. 3according to one exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a flow chart according to one exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a flow chart according to one exemplary embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The exemplary wireless communication systems and devices described belowemploy a wireless communication system, supporting a broadcast service.Wireless communication systems are widely deployed to provide varioustypes of communication such as voice, data, and so on. These systems maybe based on code division multiple access (CDMA), time division multipleaccess (TDMA), orthogonal frequency division multiple access (OFDMA),3GPP LTE (Long Term Evolution) wireless access, 3GPP LTE-A orLTE-Advanced (Long Term Evolution Advanced), 3GPP2 UMB (Ultra MobileBroadband), WiMax, or some other modulation techniques.

In particular, the exemplary wireless communication systems devicesdescribed below may be designed to support one or more standards such asthe standard offered by a consortium named “3rd Generation PartnershipProject” referred to herein as 3GPP, including Document Nos. RP-111112,“Proposed SID: Provision of low-cost MTC UEs based on LTE”, Vodafone;R1-113440, “Initial complexity analysis of MTC LTE UEs”, IPWireless; TS36.306 V10.3.0, “E-UTRA; UE radio access capabilities”; R1-112912,“Overview on low-cost MTC UEs based on LTE”, Huawei, HiSilicon, CMCC; TS36.331 V10.3.0, “E-UTRA; RRC protocol specification”; TS 36.213 V10.3.0,“E-UTRA physical layer procedures”; TS 36.211 V10.3.0, “E-UTRA physicalchannels and modulation”; R1-114329, “E-PDCCH design principles”, Nokia,Nokia Siemens Network; and TS 36.304 V10.3.0, “E-UTRA; UE procedures inidle mode”. The standards and documents listed above are herebyexpressly incorporated herein.

FIG. 1 shows a multiple access wireless communication system accordingto one embodiment of the invention. An access network 100 (AN) includesmultiple antenna groups, one including 104 and 106, another including108 and 110, and an additional including 112 and 114. In FIG. 1, onlytwo antennas are shown for each antenna group, however, more or fewerantennas may be utilized for each antenna group. Access terminal 116(AT) is in communication with antennas 112 and 114, where antennas 112and 114 transmit information to access terminal 116 over forward link120 and receive information from access terminal 116 over reverse link118. Access terminal (AT) 122 is in communication with antennas 106 and108, where antennas 106 and 108 transmit information to access terminal(AT) 122 over forward link 126 and receive information from accessterminal (AT) 122 over reverse link 124. In a FDD system, communicationlinks 118, 120, 124 and 126 may use different frequency forcommunication. For example, forward link 120 may use a differentfrequency then that used by reverse link 118.

Each group of antennas and/or the area in which they are designed tocommunicate is often referred to as a sector of the access network. Inthe embodiment, antenna groups each are designed to communicate toaccess terminals in a sector of the areas covered by access network 100.

In communication over forward links 120 and 126, the transmittingantennas of access network 100 may utilize beamforming in order toimprove the signal-to-noise ratio of forward links for the differentaccess terminals 116 and 122. Also, an access network using beamformingto transmit to access terminals scattered randomly through its coveragecauses less interference to access terminals in neighboring cells thanan access network transmitting through a single antenna to all itsaccess terminals.

An access network (AN) may be a fixed station or base station used forcommunicating with the terminals and may also be referred to as anaccess point, a Node B, a base station, an enhanced base station, aneNodeB, or some other terminology. An access terminal (AT) may also becalled user equipment (UE), a wireless communication device, terminal,access terminal or some other terminology.

FIG. 2 is a simplified block diagram of an embodiment of a transmittersystem 210 (also known as the access network) and a receiver system 250(also known as access terminal (AT) or user equipment (UE)) in a MIMOsystem 200. At the transmitter system 210, traffic data for a number ofdata streams is provided from a data source 212 to a transmit (TX) dataprocessor 214.

In one embodiment, each data stream is transmitted over a respectivetransmit antenna. TX data processor 214 formats, codes, and interleavesthe traffic data for each data stream based on a particular codingscheme selected for that data stream to provide coded data.

The coded data for each data stream may be multiplexed with pilot datausing OFDM techniques. The pilot data is typically a known data patternthat is processed in a known manner and may be used at the receiversystem to estimate the channel response. The multiplexed pilot and codeddata for each data stream is then modulated (i.e., symbol mapped) basedon a particular modulation scheme (e.g., BPSK, QPSK, M-PSK, or M-QAM)selected for that data stream to provide modulation symbols. The datarate, coding, and modulation for each data stream may be determined byinstructions performed by processor 230.

The modulation symbols for all data streams are then provided to a TXMIMO processor 220, which may further process the modulation symbols(e.g., for OFDM). TX MIMO processor 220 then provides N_(T) modulationsymbol streams to N_(T) transmitters (TMTR) 222 a through 222 t. Incertain embodiments, TX MIMO processor 220 applies beamforming weightsto the symbols of the data streams and to the antenna from which thesymbol is being transmitted.

Each transmitter 222 receives and processes a respective symbol streamto provide one or more analog signals, and further conditions (e.g.,amplifies, filters, and upconverts) the analog signals to provide amodulated signal suitable for transmission over the MIMO channel. N_(T)modulated signals from transmitters 222 a through 222 t are thentransmitted from N_(T) antennas 224 a through 224 t, respectively.

At receiver system 250, the transmitted modulated signals are receivedby N_(R) antennas 252 a through 252 r and the received signal from eachantenna 252 is provided to a respective receiver (RCVR) 254 a through254 r. Each receiver 254 conditions (e.g., filters, amplifies, anddownconverts) a respective received signal, digitizes the conditionedsignal to provide samples, and further processes the samples to providea corresponding “received” symbol stream.

An RX data processor 260 then receives and processes the N_(R) receivedsymbol streams from N_(R) receivers 254 based on a particular receiverprocessing technique to provide N_(T) “detected” symbol streams. The RXdata processor 260 then demodulates, deinterleaves, and decodes eachdetected symbol stream to recover the traffic data for the data stream.The processing by RX data processor 260 is complementary to thatperformed by TX MIMO processor 220 and TX data processor 214 attransmitter system 210.

A processor 270 periodically determines which pre-coding matrix to use(discussed below). Processor 270 formulates a reverse link messagecomprising a matrix index portion and a rank value portion.

The reverse link message may comprise various types of informationregarding the communication link and/or the received data stream. Thereverse link message is then processed by a TX data processor 238, whichalso receives traffic data for a number of data streams from a datasource 236, modulated by a modulator 280, conditioned by transmitters254 a through 254 r, and transmitted back to transmitter system 210.

At transmitter system 210, the modulated signals from receiver system250 are received by antennas 224, conditioned by receivers 222,demodulated by a demodulator 240, and processed by a RX data processor242 to extract the reserve link message transmitted by the receiversystem 250. Processor 230 then determines which pre-coding matrix to usefor determining the beamforming weights then processes the extractedmessage.

Turning to FIG. 3, this figure shows an alternative simplifiedfunctional block diagram of a communication device according to oneembodiment of the invention. As shown in FIG. 3, the communicationdevice 300 in a wireless communication system can be utilized forrealizing the UEs (or ATs) 116 and 122 in FIG. 1, and the wirelesscommunications system is preferably the LTE system. The communicationdevice 300 may include an input device 302, an output device 304, acontrol circuit 306, a central processing unit (CPU) 308, a memory 310,a program code 312, and a transceiver 314. The control circuit 306executes the program code 312 in the memory 310 through the CPU 308,thereby controlling an operation of the communications device 300. Thecommunications device 300 can receive signals input by a user throughthe input device 302, such as a keyboard or keypad, and can outputimages and sounds through the output device 304, such as a monitor orspeakers. The transceiver 314 is used to receive and transmit wirelesssignals, delivering received signals to the control circuit 306, andoutputting signals generated by the control circuit 306 wirelessly.

FIG. 4 is a simplified block diagram of the program code 312 shown inFIG. 3 in accordance with one embodiment of the invention. In thisembodiment, the program code 312 includes an application layer 400, aLayer 3 portion 402, and a Layer 2 portion 404, and is coupled to aLayer 1 portion 406. The Layer 3 portion 402 generally performs radioresource control. The Layer 2 portion 404 generally performs linkcontrol. The Layer 1 portion 406 generally performs physicalconnections.

As described in 3GPP RP-111112, new study item “Provision of low-costMTC UEs based on LTE” was discussed for the first time in RAN1#66bismeeting. The general intention of the study item is described below:

-   -   Machine-Type Communications (MTC) is a market that is likely to        continue expanding in the future. Many MTC devices are targeting        low-end (low cost, low data rate) applications that can be        handled adequately by GSM/GPRS (Global System for Mobile        Communication/General Packet Radio Service).    -   Due to the low cost of these devices and good coverage of        GSM/GPRS, there is very little motivation for MTC device        suppliers to use modules supporting the LTE radio interface.    -   This will cost operators not only in terms of maintaining        multiple RATs (Radio Access Technology), but also prevent        operators to reap the maximum benefit out of their spectrum        (given the non-optimal spectrum efficiency of GSM/GPRS).    -   Therefore, it is necessary to find a solution to ensure that        there is a clear business benefit to MTC device vendors and        operators for migrating low-end MTC devices from GSM/GPRS to LTE        networks.

Currently, LTE UEs should support all possible bandwidth, including 1.4,3, 5, 10, 15, and 20 MHz. As analyzed and discussed in 3GPP R1-113440,the cost savings could potentially be achieved by cost reduction of acategory 1 UE (as discussed in 3GPP TS 36.306 V10.3.0) supporting 20 MHzbandwidth to a UE operating in a 1.4 MHz bandwidth with data rate 100Kbps. And the greatest cost saving is achieved by reducing bandwidthsupported by UE. It is also mentioned in 3GPP R1-112912 that reductionin supported bandwidth is one of the key factors to reduce thecomplexity of LTE UE.

In the current 3GPP TS 36.331 V10.3.0 RRC protocol specification, cellre-selection information, including neighboring cell and frequencypriority, is provided by the system information.

-   -   In general, SystemInformationBlockType4 is used to provide        intra-frequency cell re-selection information. In 3GPP TS 36.331        V10.3.0, the SystemInformationBlockType4 information element is        defined as follows:

SystemInformationBlockType4 ::= SEQUENCE { IntraFreqNeighCellListIntraFreqNeighCellList OPTIONAL, -- Need OR IntraFreqBlackCellListIntraFreqBlackCellList OPTIONAL, -- Need OR csg-PhysCellIdRangePhysCellIdRange OPTIONAL, -- Cond CSG ..., lateNonCriticalExtensionOCTET STRING OPTIONAL -- Need OP } IntraFreqNeighCellList ::= SEQUENCE(SIZE (1..maxCellIntra)) OF IntraFreqNeighCellInfoIntraFreqNeighCellInfo ::= SEQUENCE { physCellId PhysCellId,q-OffsetCell Q-OffsetRange, ... } IntraFreqBlackCellList ::= SEQUENCE(SIZE (1..maxCellBlack)) OF PhysCellIdRange

-   -   In general, SystemInformationBlockType5 is used to provide        inter-frequency cell re-selection information within E-UTRA        (Evolved Universal Terrestrial Radio Access). In 3GPP TS 36.331        V10.3.0, the SystemInformationBlockType5 information element is        defined as follows:

SystemInformationBlockType5 ::= SEQUENCE { interFreqCarrierFreqListInterFreqCarrierFreqList, ..., lateNonCriticalExtension OCTET STRINGOPTIONAL -- Need OP } InterFreqCarrierFreqList ::= SEQUENCE (SIZE(1..maxFreq)) OF InterFreqCarrierFreqInfo InterFreqCarrierFreqInfo ::=SEQUENCE { dl-CarrierFreq ARFCN-ValueEUTRA, q-RxLevMin Q-RxLevMin, p-MaxP-Max OPTIONAL, -- Need OP t-ReselectionEUTRA T-Reselection,t-ReselectionEUTRA-SF SpeedStateScaleFactors OPTIONAL, -- Need OPthreshX-High ReselectionThreshold, threshX-Low ReselectionThreshold,allowedMeasBandwidth AllowedMeasBandwidth, presenceAntennaPort1PresenceAntennaPort1, cellReselectionPriority CellReselectionPriorityOPTIONAL, -- Need OP neighCellConfig NeighCellConfig, q-OffsetFreqQ-OffsetRange DEFAULT dB0, interFreqNeighCellList InterFreqNeighCellListOPTIONAL, -- Need OR interFreqBlackCellList InterFreqBlackCellListOPTIONAL, -- Need OR ..., [[ q-QualMin-r9 Q-QualMin-r9 OPTIONAL, -- NeedOP threshX-Q-r9 SEQUENCE { threshX-HighQ-r9 ReselectionThresholdQ-r9,threshX-LowQ-r9 ReselectionThresholdQ-r9 } OPTIONAL -- Cond RSRQ ]] }InterFreqNeighCellList ::= SEQUENCE (SIZE (1..maxCellInter)) OFInterFreqNeighCellInfo InterFreqNeighCellInfo ::= SEQUENCE { physCellIdPhysCellId, q-OffsetCell Q-OffsetRange } InterFreqBlackCellList ::=SEQUENCE (SIZE (1..maxCellBlack)) OF PhysCellIdRange

-   -   SystemInformationBlockType6, SystemInformationBlockType7, and        SystemInformationBlockType8 include inter-RAT cell re-selection        information for UTRA, GERAN, and CDMA2000.

On the other hand, when the UE is in the connected mode, it can beconfigured to perform some measurement (e.g., RRM measurement) bydedicate signaling (e.g., a RRCConnectionReconfiguration message). Asspecified in 3GPP TS 36.331 V10.3.0, the measurement configurationenables the UE to perform the measurement for neighbor cells orfrequencies, and provide the measurement result to the eNB ifconfigured.

In LTE system, PDCCH (Physical Downlink Control Channel) is generallyused to indicate scheduling information to a UE, such as where toreceive the corresponding PDSCH (Physical Downlink Shared Channel) forDL reception or PUSCH (Physical Uplink Shared Channel) for UL (uplink)transmission. PDCCH occupies several OFDM (Orthogonal Frequency-DivisionMultiplexing) symbols in the beginning of a subframe, such as a controlregion. The rest of the symbols, other than control region, could beused for PDSCH, whose corresponding scheduling information is carried byPDCCH in the same subframe, as discussed in 3GPP TS 36.213 V10.3.0.PDCCH is generally composed of several CCEs (Control Channel Element).Each CCE is composed of several REGs (Resource element Group), asdiscussed in 3GPP TS 36.211 V10.3.0. The scheduling unit of resource isPRB (Physical Resource Block).

As discussed in 3GPP R1-114329, E-PDCCH (Enhanced Physical DownlinkControl Channel) will be introduced for scheduling control informationin the data region (such as, a PDSCH region) so that it would be easierto achieve interference control.

It could be assumed that a low cost MTC does not support all possible(DL) bandwidth. For example, a low cost MTC may only support 1.4 MHzbandwidth. If no new mechanism (such as a special scheduling for a lowcost MTC) is introduced to help the low cost MTC for connecting/campingon a cell with unsupported bandwidth, it would be difficult for the lowcost MTC to camp on a (legacy) 20 MHz cell because the low cost MTCcannot successfully decode PDCCH of the cell (for example,SystemInformationBlockType1 could not be received successfully).

With current mechanisms specified in 3GPP TS 36.331 V10.3.0 and TS36.304 V10.3.0, E-UTRA and/or inter-RAT frequencies provided to the UE(e.g., via system information) need to be continually measured toevaluate whether cell re-selection should be performed or not. It isalso possible for a low cost MTC to perform cell re-selection (e.g., dueto mobility). When a UE performs measurement for cell re-selectionevaluation purpose, the UE would not need to receive a MIB (MasterInformation Block) which contains DL bandwidth information of a cell.

However, if no new mechanism for a low cost MTC is introduced, it wouldbe unnecessary for a low cost MTC to perform cell re-selectionevaluation for a cell with unsupported (DL) bandwidth or a frequencywithout having a cell with supported (DL) bandwidth. Power consumptionwould increase due to unnecessary measurement for cell re-selectionevaluation. In addition, there would be delays from completing cellre-selection when required because measuring cells with unsupportedbandwidth also takes time.

On the other hand, the RRM (Radio Resource Management) measurement couldprovide neighboring cell measurement information to the serving eNB fromthe UE. The measurement information (e.g., the measurement report) couldfacilitate the handover decision of the eNB. Similar to the cellre-selection evaluation, if no new mechanism for a low cost MTC isintroduced, the low cost MTC UE would not be needed to provide themeasurement information for a neighboring cell with unsupported (DL)bandwidth or for a frequency without having a cell with supported (DL)bandwidth since the low cost MTC UE is unable to perform a handover tothis kind of cell or frequency. Although the RRM measurementconfiguration is configured by dedicated signaling, the legacy eNB maynot know the exact capability of the low cost MTC UE. Therefore, the UEconfiguration may not take the low cost MTC capability into account.

In one embodiment, in addition to the current cell re-selectioninformation (as discussed in 3GPP TS 36.331 V10.3.0), some additionalinformation could be provided or preconfigured to help a low cost MTC todecide whether a cell (or a frequency) should be considered in cellre-selection evaluation or whether the low cost MTC is able to camp on acell (or a frequency). In this embodiment, the low cost MTC could be aUE that supports a largest bandwidth that is less than 20 MHz.Furthermore, the additional information could be (1) the bandwidth of aneighboring cell or a frequency, or (2) an indication for low cost MTCsupport of a neighboring cell or a frequency. The low cost MTC could usethe additional information (provided by the system information or othermethod) to decide whether to perform cell re-selection evaluation for acell or a frequency. Alternatively, after receiving cell re-selectioninformation including neighboring cell information, a low cost MTCshould acquire MIB of the neighboring cell to decide whether to considerthe neighboring cell in cell re-selection evaluation (for example,whether to measure the neighboring cell).

FIG. 5 illustrates an exemplary flowchart 500 in accordance with oneembodiment. In step 505, some information that is used for cellre-selection is broadcasted in a system information. In step 510, asecond (or additional) information, for a neighboring cell or afrequency, that is used for cell re-selection is provided.

Referring back to FIGS. 3 and 4, the UE 300 includes a program code 312stored in memory 310. In one embodiment, the CPU 308 could execute theprogram code 312 (i) to broadcast, in a system information, a firstinformation used for cell re-selection, and (ii) to providing a secondinformation, for a neighboring cell or a frequency, that is used forcell re-selection. In addition, the CPU 308 can execute the program code312 to perform all of the above-described actions and steps or othersdescribed herein.

In another embodiment, in addition to the current measurementconfiguration (as discussed in 3GPP TS 36.331 V10.3.0), additionalinformation (e.g., a cell list or a frequency list) could be provided tohelp a low cost MTC to decide whether a cell or a frequency should beconsidered in the RRM measurement and/or measurement reporting. Forexample, if the additional information is a white list, the UE wouldconsider the cells or frequencies in the list for measurement and/ormeasurement reporting. Furthermore, the UE would not consider the cellsor frequencies not in the white list for measurement and/or measurementreporting. The additional information could also be a black list.Alternatively, after receiving the measurement configuration, a low costMTC could acquire MIB of the neighboring cell to decide whether toconsider the neighboring cell in the RRM measurement and/or themeasurement reporting (such as, whether to measure the neighboringcell).

Similar concepts described herein could also be applied to cellselection (e.g., for turning on the UE, RRC connection re-establishment,or entering RRC_IDLE). More specifically, additional information (e.g.,a cell list or a frequency list) could be provided or preconfigured tohelp a low cost MTC to decide whether a cell or a frequency should beconsidered in cell selection evaluation.

FIG. 6 illustrates an exemplary flowchart 600 in accordance with oneembodiment. In step 605, a user equipment (UE) is configured withmeasurement configuration. In step 610, the UE is configured withadditional information of a neighboring cell or a frequency. Theadditional information is used for measurement and/or measurementreporting.

Referring back to FIGS. 3 and 4, the UE 300 includes a program code 312stored in memory 310. In one embodiment, the CPU 308 could execute theprogram code 312 (i) to configure a user equipment (UE) with ameasurement configuration, and (ii) to configure the UE with additionalinformation of a neighboring cell or a frequency, the additionalinformation is used for measurement or measurement reporting. Inaddition, the CPU 308 can execute the program code 312 to perform all ofthe above-described actions and steps or others described herein.

In one embodiment, the second information (or the additionalinformation) could be one or a combination of the following items:

-   -   the downlink (DL) bandwidth of a neighboring cell;    -   an indication whether a cell or a neighboring cell uses a        specific bandwidth or DL bandwidth;    -   an indication whether a cell or a neighboring cell supports a        low cost MTC;    -   a list of cells or neighboring cells supporting a low cost MTC;    -   a list of cells or neighboring cells using a specific bandwidth        or DL bandwidth;    -   a list of frequencies having a cell supporting a low cost MTC;    -   a list of frequencies with a cell using a specific bandwidth or        DL bandwidth;    -   an indication whether there is a cell on a frequency using a        specific bandwidth or DL bandwidth;    -   an indication whether there is a cell on a frequency supporting        a low cost MTC;    -   the smallest bandwidth or DL bandwidth used by cell(s) on a        frequency; and/or    -   a frequency priority used by a low cost MTC.

In addition, in one embodiment, the second information (or theadditional information) could be (i) provided in the system informationor in a dedicated signaling (such as by RRC or NAS—“Non AccessStratum”), or (ii) pre-configured (such as hard-coded in anUSIM—“Universal Subscriber Identity Module”). The system informationcould be SystemInformationBlockType4, SystemInformationBlockType5,SystemInformationBlockType6, SystemInformationBlockType7,SystemInformationBlockType8, or a new system information block type.

Furthermore, in one embodiment, the neighboring cell could be anintra-frequency cell or an inter-frequency cell that uses E-UTRA, UTRA,GERAN (GSM/EDGE Radio Access Network), or CDMA2000 frequency. The cellre-selection could be intra-frequency, inter-frequency (within E-UTRA),or inter-RAT cell re-selection. The measurement could beintra-frequency, inter-frequency, or inter-RAT measurement. In addition,the low cost MTC could be a UE that only supports 1.4 MHz bandwidth orthat does not support 20 MHz bandwidth or that does not support anybandwidth larger than 5 MHz.

Various aspects of the disclosure have been described above. It shouldbe apparent that the teachings herein may be embodied in a wide varietyof forms and that any specific structure, function, or both beingdisclosed herein is merely representative. Based on the teachings hereinone skilled in the art should appreciate that an aspect disclosed hereinmay be implemented independently of any other aspects and that two ormore of these aspects may be combined in various ways. For example, anapparatus may be implemented or a method may be practiced using anynumber of the aspects set forth herein. In addition, such an apparatusmay be implemented or such a method may be practiced using otherstructure, functionality, or structure and functionality in addition toor other than one or more of the aspects set forth herein. As an exampleof some of the above concepts, in some aspects concurrent channels maybe established based on pulse repetition frequencies. In some aspectsconcurrent channels may be established based on pulse position oroffsets. In some aspects concurrent channels may be established based ontime hopping sequences. In some aspects concurrent channels may beestablished based on pulse repetition frequencies, pulse positions oroffsets, and time hopping sequences.

Those of skill in the art would understand that information and signalsmay be represented using any of a variety of different technologies andtechniques. For example, data, instructions, commands, information,signals, bits, symbols, and chips that may be referenced throughout theabove description may be represented by voltages, currents,electromagnetic waves, magnetic fields or particles, optical fields orparticles, or any combination thereof.

Those of skill would further appreciate that the various illustrativelogical blocks, modules, processors, means, circuits, and algorithmsteps described in connection with the aspects disclosed herein may beimplemented as electronic hardware (e.g., a digital implementation, ananalog implementation, or a combination of the two, which may bedesigned using source coding or some other technique), various forms ofprogram or design code incorporating instructions (which may be referredto herein, for convenience, as “software” or a “software module”), orcombinations of both. To clearly illustrate this interchangeability ofhardware and software, various illustrative components, blocks, modules,circuits, and steps have been described above generally in terms oftheir functionality. Whether such functionality is implemented ashardware or software depends upon the particular application and designconstraints imposed on the overall system. Skilled artisans mayimplement the described functionality in varying ways for eachparticular application, but such implementation decisions should not beinterpreted as causing a departure from the scope of the presentdisclosure.

In addition, the various illustrative logical blocks, modules, andcircuits described in connection with the aspects disclosed herein maybe implemented within or performed by an integrated circuit (“IC”), anaccess terminal, or an access point. The IC may comprise a generalpurpose processor, a digital signal processor (DSP), an applicationspecific integrated circuit (ASIC), a field programmable gate array(FPGA) or other programmable logic device, discrete gate or transistorlogic, discrete hardware components, electrical components, opticalcomponents, mechanical components, or any combination thereof designedto perform the functions described herein, and may execute codes orinstructions that reside within the IC, outside of the IC, or both. Ageneral purpose processor may be a microprocessor, but in thealternative, the processor may be any conventional processor,controller, microcontroller, or state machine. A processor may also beimplemented as a combination of computing devices, e.g., a combinationof a DSP and a microprocessor, a plurality of microprocessors, one ormore microprocessors in conjunction with a DSP core, or any other suchconfiguration.

It is understood that any specific order or hierarchy of steps in anydisclosed process is an example of a sample approach. Based upon designpreferences, it is understood that the specific order or hierarchy ofsteps in the processes may be rearranged while remaining within thescope of the present disclosure. The accompanying method claims presentelements of the various steps in a sample order, and are not meant to belimited to the specific order or hierarchy presented.

The steps of a method or algorithm described in connection with theaspects disclosed herein may be embodied directly in hardware, in asoftware module executed by a processor, or in a combination of the two.A software module (e.g., including executable instructions and relateddata) and other data may reside in a data memory such as RAM memory,flash memory, ROM memory, EPROM memory, EEPROM memory, registers, a harddisk, a removable disk, a CD-ROM, or any other form of computer-readablestorage medium known in the art. A sample storage medium may be coupledto a machine such as, for example, a computer/processor (which may bereferred to herein, for convenience, as a “processor”) such theprocessor can read information (e.g., code) from and write informationto the storage medium. A sample storage medium may be integral to theprocessor. The processor and the storage medium may reside in an ASIC.The ASIC may reside in user equipment. In the alternative, the processorand the storage medium may reside as discrete components in userequipment. Moreover, in some aspects any suitable computer-programproduct may comprise a computer-readable medium comprising codesrelating to one or more of the aspects of the disclosure. In someaspects a computer program product may comprise packaging materials.

While the invention has been described in connection with variousaspects, it will be understood that the invention is capable of furthermodifications. This application is intended to cover any variations,uses or adaptation of the invention following, in general, theprinciples of the invention, and including such departures from thepresent disclosure as come within the known and customary practicewithin the art to which the invention pertains.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method for improving cell re-selection in awireless communication system, comprising: broadcasting a firstinformation and a second information in a system information, whereinthe first information is used for cell re-selection performed by a firstUser Equipment (UE) without reduction in supported bandwidth, the secondinformation is used for cell re-selection performed by a second UE withreduction in supported bandwidth, and the second information includes alist of neighboring cells supporting a second UE.
 2. The method of claim1, wherein bandwidth supported by the second UE is reduced compared withbandwidth supported by the first UE.
 3. The method of claim 1, whereinthe first UE supports 20 MHz bandwidth and the second UE supports alargest bandwidth less than 20 MHz.
 4. The method of claim 1, whereinthe second information includes a list of frequencies that have a cellsupporting the second UE.
 5. The method of claim 1, wherein the firstinformation and the second information are in different systeminformation block types of the system information.
 6. The method ofclaim 1, wherein the neighboring cells are intra-frequency neighboringcells.
 7. The method of claim 1, wherein the neighboring cells areinter-frequency neighboring cells.
 8. The method of claim 1, wherein thecell re-selection is performed when the first UE or the second UE is inidle mode.
 9. The method of claim 1, wherein the first informationincludes a list of neighboring cells supporting the first UE.
 10. Themethod of claim 1, wherein the first information includes a list offrequencies that have a cell supporting the first UE.
 11. Acommunication device for improving cell re-selection in a wirelesscommunication system, the communication device comprising: a controlcircuit; a processor installed in the control circuit; a memoryinstalled in the control circuit and operatively coupled to theprocessor; wherein the processor is configured to execute a program codestored in memory to improve cell re-selection by: broadcasting a firstinformation and a second information in a system information, whereinthe first information is used for cell re-selection performed by a firstUser Equipment (UE) without reduction in supported bandwidth, the secondinformation is used for cell re-selection performed by a second UE withreduction in supported bandwidth, and the second information includes alist of neighboring cells supporting the second UE.
 12. Thecommunication device of claim 11, wherein bandwidth supported by thesecond UE is reduced compared with bandwidth supported by the first UE.13. The communication device of claim 11, wherein the first UE supports20 MHz bandwidth and the second UE supports a largest bandwidth lessthan 20 MHz.
 14. The communication device of claim 11, wherein thesecond information includes a list of frequencies that have a cellsupporting the second UE.
 15. The communication device of claim 11,wherein the first information and the second information are indifferent system information block types of the system information. 16.The communication device of claim 11, wherein the neighboring cells areintra-frequency neighboring cells.
 17. The communication device of claim11, wherein the neighboring cells are inter-frequency neighboring cells.18. The communication device of claim 11, wherein the cell re-selectionis performed when the first UE or the second UE is in idle mode.
 19. Thecommunication device of claim 11, wherein the first information includesa list of neighboring cells supporting the first UE.
 20. Thecommunication device of claim 11, wherein the first information includesa list of frequencies that have a cell supporting the first UE.